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Argos wins NISC opener at Trinity

MISHAWAKA — The Argos girls soccer team opened Northern Indiana Soccer Conference play with a 3-1 road win at Trinity Thursday.
In a shocking start, Jami Patterson and Sammie Hopkins wall-passed the opening kick-off right down the field with Hopkins striking for a goal with 15 seconds elapsed on the clock. It would be hard to imagine a better start for the Dragons, and the visitors continued their solid play, pressing the Titans for the better part of the opening frame.
Patterson scored on a long run after a pass from Karalei Kring to make it 2-0 with fifteen minutes to go. The junior forward just missed another chance after being caught by two Trinity defenders inside the penalty area. The hosts finally pulled together, and Katie Was stung the Dragons with a strike from the left side just two minutes before the half. Instead of commanding the game with a 3-0 lead, the Dragons were suddenly in a fight at 2-1.
“We really showed some great offensive movement and passing — maybe our best of the year,” said Argos Head Coach Jon Alcorn. “Even though it hurt to concede one right before the half, I told the kids we were playing well, and to just continue. Stefany (Parrish) was injured and couldn’t play, so that worried me, but we had a solid week of practice, and Carly (McCay) was able to get into her first game, so that was a boost.”
McCay, a senior midfielder, missed the first three games of the season with a foot injury but helped seal the win in her first game back with a shot from 20 yards out that gave the Dragons a cushion at 3-1 with 24 minutes to play.
Trinity picked up the pressure late in the second half. Argos keeper Karlee VanDerWeele stopped a strong shot, parried another over the crossbar and came out to corral several through balls.
“We were fighting the wind, we were tired, and it got to the point we just needed to clear the ball long and regroup,” Alcorn said. “Without that insurance goal from Carly, we’d have been in trouble. Credit Trinity with finding the passes at midfield and distributing well to keep us on our heels that last quarter. I knew they hadn’t lost yet this season, and they always field a competitive side. Still, a road win in the conference is huge for us, and we’ll take it.”
The win gives Argos an early lead in the 15th year of the NISC. The Dragons have eight of the first 14 titles.
Trinity fell to 2-1-1 on the year while the Dragons improved to 3-1.
Trinity won the JV match 3-0 with Jenni Fishburn making eight saves for Argos.
• ARGOS 3, TRINITY 1
At Mishawaka
First half
A — Sammie Hopkins (Jami Patterson), 1st minute
A — Patterson (Karalei Kring), 25th minute
T — Katie Was, 38th minute
Second half
A — Carly McCay, 56th minute
Shot on Goal: Argos 11, Trinity 5
Saves: Argos 4 (Karlee VanDerWeele (Argos) 4, Molly Hoover (Trinity) 8
Records: Argos 3-1, Trinity 2-1-1
JV: Trinity 3, Argos 0